Arizona Public Media General Manager Jack Gibson dropped a bombshell on employees of the organization in an all-staff meeting Thursday. The UA has plans to dramatically cut funding to AZPM by fiscal year 2019 and will slash their contributions significantly year-to-year until that date. According to an internal memo sent by Gibson, AZPM “received an appropriation of approximately $2.6M” for the fiscal year 2014, and the “cumulative reduction” in the level of funding set to total two million dollars by 2019.
According to an internal memo from AZPM Community Advisory Board Chair Chris Helms, negotiations have been ongoing with AZPM and the university for the last two months, but fairly early in the process AZPM contends UA representatives showed no real interest in reaching terms that would continue to benefit the media outlet’s current financial realities.
“Several of us met with Senior VP Teri Thompson in April. It was an unsatisfactory meeting,” The Helms memo said. “Teri Thompson was either unwilling or couldn’t answer many of our questions. She did say, however that President Hart told her she was disappointed with some of AZPM’s ‘content’ which in Hart’s opinion didn’t contain enough coverage of the U of A.
“After the meeting with Thompson I requested a meeting with President Hart. That meeting was scheduled then cancelled with a request for us to work with Thompson to mitigate proposed cuts by asking for extension money from the U of A Department of Agriculture. No answer has come to us regarding that funding which incidentally would make little difference in the big picture. Several of us have come to the conclusion we’re being stonewalled.”
Helms may argue the decision is of little meaning to the UA as a whole, but it’s clearly a significant blow to AZPM, which has relied on that source of funding since its inception. While it may not be a lifeline, it obviously puts the PBS and NPR affiliate in a quandary as to how to make up the difference. Options include further negotiations with the UA to try to change the university’s perception of the media outlet’s value, and naturally figuring out ways to improve the private donation stream, which would include attempts to increase the number of overall donations and finding either major individual or corporate contributions, perhaps not unlike what the university’s athletic department has been able to generate for some of its larger facility improvement endeavors.
“UA leadership is working with AZPM management to identify potential sources of new earned revenue for the organization,” the Gibson memo said. “AZPM stations are some of the best-watched and listened to in the public media industry. The organization will become increasingly more reliant on the generosity of area business through their program underwriting support, and on individual viewers and listeners for a larger stake in its operation.”
Meanwhile, the Helms memo appears to be the first salvo in an effort to generate community outcry toward the UA’s decision.
“The CAB’s job is to communicate with the public, and particularly with AZPM’s members and supporters, to tell our story and relay feedback, good or bad, to management. If there has ever been a time to get a message to our constituents it is now,” the Helms memo said. “The proposed budget cuts by the U of A would eventually destroy all of the progress AZPM has made over the past few years. It is no exaggeration to say AZPM is one of the most successful PBS/NPR operations in the country. To allow AZPM to become a mediocrity for a mere two-million-dollars a year is a travesty.
“I urge you as members and past members of the CAB to contact everyone you know who can influence President Hart, particularly large donors, and ask them to help make our case.”
Some within AZPM are concerned the move mirrors what occurred with PBS affiliate KAET TV in Phoenix once Arizona State decided to limit funding a few years ago. Some insist that loss of revenue dramatically affected the station’s nightly news program, Horizon, and another program entitled Arizona Stories, and led to layoffs within the organization.
By media standards, AZPM went on something of a hiring spree during the last year, and added a number of voices on the radio side with aims at enhancing local programming, a proposal that still remains in the discussion stage. On the television side, KUAT TV 6 recently launched a local public affairs program, Metro Week, hosted by Andrea Kelly. Arizona Week with Lorraine Rivera airs immediately afterward on Fridays and Sundays. Arizona Illustrated (most recently referred to as AZ Illustrated), the nightly news program that began airing on the PBS affiliate in 1980, has been shelved for the summer with a visually intensive retool scheduled to debut in September. The plan with the new Arizona Illustrated is to air it at various times throughout the week, as opposed to the former approach where it aired weeknights at 6:30.
This article appears in Jun 19-25, 2014.
So is the University reducing its support to AZPM BY $2 million or TO $2 million (from the current $2.6M) by 2019?
What in the hell are they thinking in The Tower on University Boulevard?
As our community continues to lose young educated talent, it’s saddening to hear about cuts to AZPM. We already lack a cohesive quality of life and identity that young people are attracted to, only to read that the U of A will start thrashing at the budget of the few assets our community has. I moved here 11 years ago from the bay area, California and was relieved to discover a public radio station in Tucson which I think demonstrates a strong sense of community. Change is inevitable but keep in mind the unintended consequences of that change.
It is inconceivable to me that a multi-billion dollar industry like the University of Arizona would consider cutting a measly $2 million dollars – just over one tenth of one percent of the total UA budget of $1.8 BILLION dollars – and risk losing one of the best advertising venues they have available!
Yet they – the University – goes on a hiring spree every year, hiring administrators galore, for whom they surely pay well in excess of the money they’re proposing be cut from AZPM.
Shameful.
Apparently Ms. Hart doesn’t watch AZPM. Many, many, many of the stories are about University programs. (I think that is a good thing.)
I should say many of the AZ Illustrated stories WERE about UA ….
AZPM has made a lot of bad decisions lately. While I support them in an overall sense, they need to make some changes in management. I’m not going to automatically support them this time.
Keep the discussions and negotiations going so that (in hopes that) both parties can find out what’s needed and get to an agreement. We’re quite amazed anyone at UA could say that AZPM didn’t cover the University enough! There’s something else going on, possibly it’s political as in Dem/GOP, or else internal-political, a power play. something.
I agree with urnumber6. It looks like some of the questionable decisions made by AZPM over the last few months aren’t sitting well. All signs this is a management issue, not a political one.
How ironic that the public media at ASU is still going strong, nationally known, even. I get those channels because of where I live. Good luck getting back some of your funding. I would think that the people of Tucson would support you on this. Evaline from Oracle
Good to see all of Jack Gibson and Chris Helms friends respond so fast!!! Here are the facts: 1, Az Public Media is $207,000.00 in the red this fiscal year that ends in a few weeks. This is a sure sign that the public has lost confidence. 2, Since Mr. Gibson (who earns $220,000 a year) has taken over at Az Public Media, there has been terrible decisions made, an unbelievable turnover in personnel, and lost viewership.
Do not fault the University administration!!! They are just asking for some accountability that is expected in any organization!
Mr. Gibson is one of the finalist for the General Manager of the Plattsburg, New York, PBS station. At first I was saddened that he may go. Now, Plattsburg please take him off our hands!!!
Is there another reason for the proposed funding cuts other than UA President Hart wants more coverage for the UofA? I hope the Weekly follows up on this story and does some investigative journalism. Or more than press release reporting.
I am constantly amazed that most every Southern Arizona story, most recently the children from Central America showing up at the border, is covered nationally by KZAZ out of Phoenix. Where on earth is KUAZ?
Hart is a $700K a year mediocrity who loves firing people and has zero vision because she obeys the AZ Board of Regents. This is not very surprising.
Let’s talk radio. I love KUAT. And KUAZ. But I do not understand why Arizona has four overlapping, duplicative public radio dynasties. Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and Yuma (Yuma? yes, Yuma) all have NPR stations with duplicative jazz, classical, local news and NPR coverage. KJZZ Phoenix is on the air at 98.9 in Tucson. KUAZ = KJZZ = KPUB/Flag = KAWC/Yuma, and on the classical side, and KBAQ=KNAU=KUAT. Clearly, there are models where a statewide public radio system can preserve local programming and content while serving statewide audiences. But is Bach different on KUAT, KNAU or KBAQ? Is Terry Gross better relayed out of Yuma? Consolidation would free up resources for the local content that we crave and deserve.
Gibson has proven himself to be a hateful jerk who has no understanding at all of what public broadcasting means to its listeners and viewers. He has no use for NPR or PBS in his own conservative life, and is paid an unbelievable salary (with bonuses!!!) to be a vindictive scowl-monger who treats his employees (and anyone else not in his tax bracket) like scum. Good riddance, but he should be run out of Tucson on a rail for his utter disdain of this community and its culture. Instead, he will be rewarded with an even more astronomical paycheck while the organization he ruined falls to its knees. That’s life for the talentless, heartless hacks like him, with no grace, no kindness, and no respect for others.
Oops, I messed up it’s KJZZ in Phoenix and what’s up with them trying to `hide’ their station ids behind AZPM?
Before arriving in Tucson I was served quite well by PBS outlets in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles, all of whose franchises were held by community-based non-profit organizations, with real membership and boards of directors elected by the members. Those boards were responsible for the station’s budgets and hiring and firing of chief operating officers. While I’ve been away for nearly two decades, I believe all three stations continue to perform well. Would the university surrender the franchises — PBS and NPR — to the community? Would we the people take real responsibility for our local treasures? This might be worth a conversation.
As a U of A staff person who’s living the consequences of budget reductions (now doing the job of three people), it is most dis”Hart”ing, but not surprising, to hear of the proposed cuts to AZPM. Again the U of A administration continues to impose a commercial business operating model on the university community where many departments, programs and personnel succumb to their aggressive “reform” agenda. What’s the goal? Apparently the complete eradication of programs and personnel who cannot adequately justify their existence to the Hart regime. At least the some of the supportive, devoted, and motivated UA employees who, having already suffered many years of substandard pay and growing responsibilities, will get a good downward follow-through in being eventually fired by Hart’s cronies. But, thank god for Athletics right? The UA Foundation along with the donors who coughed up MILLIONS to recently renovate and expand the UA football stadium, should be publicly shammed for misdirecting such funding to Athletics. But, hey FOOTBALL!!! Right? It is appalling to realize how diminished the focus has become on properly supporting and expanding education at the U of A.
KUAT-FM is barely listenable during the day. I have to wait to midnight when “Music through the night” comes on. Great classical music. Maybe they could fire the program manager or light a fire under his ass to make it better.
Since Bill Buckmaster left I have stopped watching Az Illustrated. Barely watchable.
The UofA doesn’t get enough coverage on AZPM. Hart is truly clueless. Time to take AZPM out of the UofA’s heavy hand and let ot flourish as a community resource.
I do not have cable or satellite TV. I do however have a converter box. I will never give up my 5 different PBS channels. “PBS World” informs and educates me on what is REALLY” going on in the world.
UA…you people should be ashamed of yourselves. Perhaps our UA basketball and football coaches will donate part of their enormous salaries.
I’m amazed that AZPM has been as unprofessional as it has seemed, since it has been connected to the University. One might expect better presentations from an educational institution with a stake in the station’s survival. Perhaps it is time, as has been suggested to find the community will to move this forward, since the U of A appears to care less. We need more wonderful efforts like “The Desert Speaks” and much less of the endless talking -head pledge drives. Personally, I would PAY NOT to have a pledge drive! Let’s see what we can do, Tucson!
The grim realities of state run/university run media….
“Teri Thompson was either unwilling or couldn’t answer many of our questions. She did say, however that President Hart told her she was disappointed with some of AZPM’s ‘content’ which in Hart’s opinion didn’t contain enough coverage of the U of A.”
This sounds like a form of censorship to me.
Mostly I listen to the radio and only recently purchased a TV after living without one for the last 10 years.
I’ve listened to NPR since it’s inception. Much of the time through university affiliated stations. KUAZ is one of the best and it’s contribution to this community should not only be celebrated but supported.
The fact is that a tiny percentage of listeners contribute. It is often under 10% of a listening community that donates toward that media. I believe in the last pledge drive there were only approximately 2000 or so individuals who donated toward public radio. Sadly that is not exclusively a Tucson statistic but a fairly consistent reality around the country. Lot’s of people listen or watch public media, but few contribute.
There’s an appropriate blues lyric that states, “you don’t miss your water till your well run dry”. Please support this local cause.
WILL AM 580 in Urbana Illinois actually did what PC Bergen suggested! They held a non pledge drive, and people pledged!!! It worked. Go figure.
If you’ve contributed to this conversation — talk is cheap — please consider digging deep and contributing to AZPM. Though we’re only subscribers now, perhaps someday we’ll be members with a vote for the leadership, i.e., a real board of directors, who will manage the management and the budget. It’s fairly clear that AZPM is not as important to the university as it is to the community. So let’s get the community seriously behind OUR public radio and TV. The BIG MAN who has so generously put out $17M+ to retain our coaches and AD is unlikely to do the same for AZPM. Or would he if only we knew whom to ask? Meanwhile, it seems to be up to us.
We should “Never Settle” for these cuts.
to mostlyfedup’s comment that KUAZ has not been covering the central american migrant issue. They’ve been on this story since before it got national attentionn.
https://www.azpm.org/s/20257-central-american-immigrant-minors-jam-nogales-shelter/
https://news.azpm.org/p/local-news/2014/6/2/36631-central-american-youth-overwhelm-immigration-system/
https://www.azpm.org/s/20341-az-aclu-alleges-children-experience-civil-rights-abuses-in-detention/
https://www.azpm.org/p/home-featured/2014/6/17/37669-grijalva-refuses-to-tour-nogales-shelter-without-clergy/?utm_source=Rotator&utm_medium=rotator&utm_campaign=Rotator%2C%20Home%20Page
Rachel2013:
You mean the crisis where the Obama administration will not stop these “children” that are being run into the country and dumped off. The illegals know that we will not stop them at the border. Why dont you ask why are they rushing in here all of a sudden.
Looking at salaries of the top people, It should be cut back to a third of what they currently are making.
“With less and less investigative journalism in town, less opportunities for everyday citizens to produce their own programming, and as the cleansing of “content” continues, we are fast becoming a very different kind of community.” http://www.locallyownedaz.com/?p=234
It wasn’t the Mayor, Council, or U of A that made the recent shoddy programming decisions over at AZPM. Look to Gibson and Michael Chihak. Maybe I’m a solitary disgruntled viewer, something tells me I’m not.
If in fact there is a problem with AZPM management or business practices, I think it would have made sense for UA to express concern, let AZPM know what action would be taken if changes weren’t made, and give them a chance to comply. Announcing this cut 2 weeks before the end of fiscal is absolutely draconian and does not reflect well on a university that needs AZPM as much as AZPM needs the U.
When traveling, I always tune into to the PBS stations across the US and find there is much more out there than we are offered by our local PBS station–hopefully, so good will come out of this-like some more up to date and new programs! ………or maybe it will just be “dialing for dollars reruns 24/7”.
I stopped watching when Buckmaster left and the radio stations are second rate at best. With Serius and streaming signals who needs AZPM’s mediocre offerings. I give to WFMT, KDFC, WTTW, and KQED. Excellent stations worthy of support. AZPM is headed in the same direction as the Citizen, ADS, spring training, and AZO.
@Rachel2013 I was commenting on the fact that there was a local story that was being covered by the Phoenix NPR station. I realize that our station has covered the story, but I’ve really only heard 3 different stories, but I’ve heard the same story repeated multiple times. In my book, that’s not really covering the story. Why on earth, when there is a story about a local situation like the children coming across the border, can’t our local NPR affiliate be the one that is getting the story on the national NPR news. And to those that think that most of the comments are being made by non-financial supports, in my case you are wrong.
@mostlyfedup Actually, the reporter covering that story HAS been on NPR nationally reporting on it. She’s also been interviewed about it by other public radio stations around the country.
How else do you expect the University to pay for it’s new ‘brand marketing strategy’ from an out of state company and the salaries of those directing this opaque process? Is Hart really serious in her claim that AZPM doesn’t run enough stories about the UA? Does she even watch or listen to AZPM? One thing is certain, cutting funding is not going improve media presence unless one considers bad publicity and controversy part of the new UA marketing campaign.
Time to go for profit and pay your own ride
As I read the story above, it seems to me the funding to AZPM is to be reduced from $2.6M to $2.0 Million. Perhaps there are other places to do cutbacks. For example, I wish there were ratings published for all the KUAT-TV subchannels. The equipment has been acquired, but programming costs for those multiple services continue. I can’t watch those subcarriers via my satellite TV feed. Not so sure they are covered by cable TV, either. Are there actually people watching? Are there fundraising efforts on those “other” signals, in addition to the main PBS6 feed? Maybe it’s time to stop spending money on some of those, if nobody is watching.
As for the planning on Arizona Illustrated: if people weren’t watching at one fixed time, what makes the programmers think dropping the program in at various times each day will do anything to inspire supporters to donate?
And, about KUAZ radio…can somebody PLEASE get a map to the announcer booth for who do traffic reports? I’ve given up calling whichever volunteer answers each time the location of a traffic incident is mis-identified. Ina Road and Meredith is NOT in Avra Valley. The 200 block of west Ajo Way is nowhere close to the I-10/I-19 interchange. These sorts of goofs happen almost every day, more a DIS-service to listeners than a help.
@n7iqv – I had the same question re: the funding but, but based on other news reports, it appears after 5 years, the UA’s meager support of AZPM will be $600K a year, versus the current $2.9M. Not a stellar reporting job.
Agree about the radio announcers struggling with local landmarks. The morning guy mispronounces “Houghton” every time he says it.
@franklymydears, I made an online end-of-year contribution today, which is addition to my monthly support of AZPM. How about the rest of you?
I understand the concern for the budget cuts aimed at AZPM, but I disagree with taking money from the Cooperative Extension in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (not “U of A Department of Agriculture”). It saddens me that AZPM is getting their funding cut, but it saddens me as well that you are targeting extension to take money from. Both services are highly beneficial to the community, so I believe both should remain intact.
But they will continue to beg viewer/listeners for money all the time, good luck with that.
I worked for KUAT-FM decades ago and have fund raised enough to know how bare bones the operation is, how dedicated the rank and file who do the hard work is as well. This 2 million dollar cut is so brutal that I feel like starting a revolution! Where would we be without ….. Sesame Street, for example? Or a WHOLE Brahms Symphony? Every movement! Or the NPR talk radio interviews, like Terri Gross? I am speechless at the
UA’s attitude in cutting 2 million dollars in support over the next five years.
nfahr
Gibson makes 220k a year? That’s all I need to know.
To those who complain about fundraising on AZPM (the thread began with the issue being 2 million to be cut from the stations, leaving 600,000 a year after 5 years). When you listen to commercial radio, have you ever counted up the amount of time ads took? I notice it when I’m listening to UA basketball games….more ads than programming, sometimes.
Yeah to Fitz’ cartoon on Sunday, backing up AZPM!
At any rate, I’m hoping people who like AZPM like I do, who would miss the Newshour,
Doc Martin, and on the radio, good music 24 hrs a day, or This American Life, Garrison Keillor et al, will speak up and protest these cuts to Ann Weaver Hart, the President of UA.
Fitz is a dolt. Not funny. Not insightful.
If you are shocked that Gibson makes 220k a yr then what do you think about the $$$$$$$ Hart makes?
Plus 1 on Fitz.
I would love to make that kind of money. I’d patronize whoever or whatever to get it as long as it was legal.
I don’t know enough about her matters to know if she’s patronizing the people I’d prefer to. Looks like she’s moving into medicine.
its Friday 6/27 and I just tried to watch AZ Illustrated about PCC. It was unbearable. There is no reason to waste good electricity on a program like this. Pull the plug.
How come John’s newest column isn’t posted? Read it via the dead-tree edition. Good stuff about AZPM – please post it.
Please Post John’s newest column on AZPM.
Thanks.
This is old news!! I heard there are many new developments in this story!
Mainly, a lot of people in the community are interested in the status of Mr. Gibson beingthe finalist for the General Manager of the Plattsburg, New York, PBS station.
Also, his being criticized in a scathing letter on the AZPM web page.
I for one can not wait for this $220,000 empty suit to leave for Plattsburg!!
The rumor that Jack Gibson is a finalist at Plattsburg, NY station is absolutely not true. And whoever started this rumor is not someone I would like to know. It’s an utter fabrication.
Ms. Fahringer,
Are you privileged to information the public does not know? All personnel issues are always confidential, to protect the applicants. Therefore, the only person who would provide you with this information is Jack Gibson himself. I am sensing that you and Helms are shills for this man!!
You tell me one thing this man has done to earn a $220,000 salary!! Especially with his bad decisions and totally dismantling a once great station!!!
AZPM has survived Teri Thompson and Ann Weaver Hart. Plus viewers and listeners seem to be responding and ponying up at least as much, maybe more, dollars than these two mean girls took away.